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N Marks

Publications and source records attributed to N Marks.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Identification of membrane-bound carbonic anhydrase in white matter coated vesicles: the fate of carbonic anhydrase and other white matter coated vesicle proteins in triethyl tin-induced leukoencephalopathy.

We have extended our studies on the content of white matter derived coated vesicles (WMCVs) to show that they are enriched in membrane-bound carbonic anhydrase. Within the myelin complex membrane-bound carbonic anhydrase is concentrated in the periaxolemmal domain; however, this protein is enriched almost sevenfold in the bilayer of coated vesicles even relative to this myelin membrane region. These data suggest that some vesicles are derived from a site at which this enzyme is highly localized. The enrichment observed for membrane-bound carbonic anhydrase is unique since other periaxolemmal proteins such as CNPase and plasmolipin are only present in equal amounts in periaxolemmal-myelin fractions and WMCVs. Based on their known localization, the presence of CNPase coupled with the absence of MAG in WMCVs suggest that these vesicles are derived from the paranodal region. The identification in WMCVs of periaxolemmal-myelin proteins associated with ion and fluid movement, such as carbonic anhydrase, Na+,K+ ATPase, and the putative K+ channel protein plasmolipin, prompted us to examine the status of these vesicles in triethyl tin (TET)-induced myelin edema. Coated vesicles and other membrane fractions were isolated from whole brains of control and TET-treated rats. Whole brains were used so we could compare the effects of TET on WMCV proteins with the effect on proteins enriched in gray matter coated vesicles. The results indicated that TET had no detectable effect on compact or periaxolemmal-myelin, however, Western blot analysis showed that WMCV proteins, such as carbonic anhydrase, CNPase, and plasmolipin, were virtually absent or greatly diminished from the whole brain coated vesicle fraction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Brain cysteine proteinase inhibitors II: evidence that a 21-kDa papain-binding component resembles ras p21.

A 21-kDa protein extracted from rat or bovine brain at high pH was purified on alkylated-papain and shown to have dual ras-like and cysteine proteinase inhibitory (CPI) properties. This was demonstrated by its GTP-binding activity, cross-reactivity toward pan-reactive ras p21 monoclonal antibody, and inhibition of papain. The material eluted earlier than cystatins or kininogens on the alkylated papain-affinity column and was devoid of other CPIs based on immunoblot analysis. In a second procedure, ras p21s isolated from rat or bovine brain membranes by cholate extraction and purified by gel-permeation and hydrophobic interaction were shown to act also as potent CPIs, inhibiting rat brain cathepsin L, papain, or rat brain cathepsin B with Ki values of 3, 11, and 167 nM, respectively. This component cross-reacted with the monospecific anti-ras, but not with other anti-CPIs, and represented 3-4% of total GTP binding present in homogenates. The specific activity of the purified 21 kDa component was 4.7 nmol GTP-gamma-S bound per mg protein. The data support the notion that brain ras p21s constitute a separate group of CPIs and are available for regulating some aspects of brain protein turnover.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1990

Beneficial effect of magnesium sulfate in acute myocardial infarction.

The effects of magnesium on the incidence of arrhythmias and on mortality were evaluated in 103 patients with documented acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Fifty patients received a magnesium infusion for 48 hours and 53 received only the vehicle (isotonic glucose) as placebo. The baseline characteristics of the population were similar in the 2 groups. Tachyarrhythmias requiring drug therapy were recorded in 32% of the patients in the magnesium group and in 45% of the placebo group. Conduction disturbances were found in 23% of the placebo group as compared to 14% in the magnesium group. The intrahospital mortality was 2% (1 patient) in the magnesium group, compared to 17% (9 patients) in the placebo group (p less than 0.01). No adverse effects were observed during and after the magnesium infusion. These data support a possible protective role of magnesium in patients with AMI.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

Identification of integrin collagen receptors on human melanoma cells.

Integrin receptors may mediate the adhesion of cells to a number of extracellular matrix components. We found that the attachment of human melanoma cells to collagen types I and IV was blocked by antibodies to the integrin beta 1 subunit but not by peptides containing the Arg-Gly-Asp sequence. Ligand affinity chromatography was used to search for integrin-related receptors which mediate adhesion to native collagens. Detergent extracts of surface 125I-iodinated melanoma cells were chromatographed on type I or IV collagen-Sepharose columns. Bound material was eluted and analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. EDTA, but not Arg-Gly-Asp peptides, eluted a mixture of two integrin-related heterodimeric complexes. Each complex contained the integrin beta 1 chain with Mr of 110,000 and a distinct alpha chain with Mr of either 200,000 or 150,000. Immunoprecipitation with specific monoclonal antibodies identified the complexes as very late activation antigen (VLA)-1 (alpha 1 beta 1) and VLA-2 (alpha 2 beta 1), respectively. The binding of these receptors to collagen appeared to be specific because they failed to be retained on fibronectin- or laminin-Sepharose columns. Immunofluorescent staining of cells on collagen substrates with antibodies to VLA-1 and VLA-2 localized these complexes in vinculin-positive adhesion plaques. In contrast, the receptor complexes were not detected in adhesion plaques of cells attached to fibronectin- or laminin-coated substrates. These results indicate that melanoma cells express at least two different integrin-related collagen-binding receptor complexes that appear to mediate cell adhesion to collagen.

Antibodies↗
PubMed1988

Diversity of rat brain cysteine proteinase inhibitors: isolation of low-molecular-weight cystatins and a higher-molecular weight T-kininogen-like glycoprotein.

Conditions for extraction of rat brain soluble and particulate cysteine proteinase inhibitors (CPIs) were compared and an optimal one was selected to isolate low- and high-molecular-weight forms active toward papain or brain cathepsins B/L. The different forms were purified by affinity chromatography on alkylated papain, and identified on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gels by use of Schiff's reagent, or by immunoblots using antisera to monomer or polymeric forms of human urinary cystatin c, to a human plasma histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG), or to rat plasma T-kininogen. In particulates containing nuclei (P1) or synaptosomes (P2) the predominant CPI was an 80-kDa glycoprotein cross-reacting to anti-HRG and shown to be a T-kininogen by treatment with TPCK-trypsin, and subsequent bioassay of the released kinins. The levels found in rat brain were approximately 0.5 nmol/g wet weight. The higher-molecular-weight CPI potently inhibited cathepsin L hydrolysis of Leu-enkephalin at the Gly2-Gly3 bond with a Ki 10(-10) M. In contrast the low-molecular-weight CPIs were present in postmicrosomal fractions (S3) and cross-reacted with anti-cystatin c, but not with anti-HRG, anti-lysozyme, anti-beta protein amyloid peptide, or anti-T-kininogen. The low-molecular-weight forms were present at approximately 1-1.5 nmol/g wet weight and resembled "cerebrocystatin" purified previously from rat brain cytosol by M. Kopitar, F. Stern, and N. Marks [1983) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 112, 1000-1006.).

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Rat brain cathepsin L: characterization and differentiation from cathepsin B utilizing opioid peptides.

The specificity of purified rat brain cathepsin L (EC 3.4.22.15) was mapped by the use of synthetic and opioid peptides and some properties were compared to rat brain cathepsin B, rat kidney cathepsin L, and bovine spleen cathepsin C. Brain and kidney cathepsin L cleaved leucine or methionine enkephalin (LE or ME) at the Gly-Gly bond to release Tyr-Gly and Gly-Phe-Leu (-Met). In studies on pro-opioids, the brain enzyme also recognized Met-Arg, Arg-Arg, and Arg-Ile bonds; the best substrates on a relative basis were ME-Arg-Phe, LE- or ME-Arg-Arg, and LE-Arg-Arg-Ile. Measurement of kinetic values in relation to the sites of opioid cleavage provided a basis to differentiate brain cathepsins B and L. Cathepsin L acted with high affinity toward LE to cleave Gly2-Gly3 (Km 82.5 microM, kcat 2034 min-1), in contrast to low affinity cleavage by cathepsin B at Gly3-Phe4. Kapp, the second-order rate constant of enzyme inactivation by Z-Phe-Phe-CHN2 with LE as substrate was 31,530 M-1 s-1 or 10(3) higher than its effect on cathepsin B-mediated hydrolysis of ME-Arg-Phe at the Met-Arg site. Gly-Gly cleavage by cathepsin L was blocked by D-Ala2, did not require the presence of free end groups, and was the only site recognized within opioid peptides having a C-terminal Arg-COOH. The use of opioid peptides as substrates provides further insight into cathepsin L specificity. For these the susceptible sites were flanked primarily by hydrophobic and aromatic groups at P2, P2' or P3'.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1986

Preferential action of rat brain cathepsin B as a peptidyl dipeptidase converting pro-opioid oligopeptides.

Purified rat brain cathepsin B (EC 3.4.22.1) converted prodynorphins or proenkephalins to shorter active forms by the preferential removal of C-terminal dipeptides. The substrate affinities for Met-enkephalin-Arg-Phe or -Arg-Gly-Leu were Km 46 and 117 microM, and kcat/Km ratios were 67 and 115 microM-1, min-1, respectively. Met-Enkephalin was inactivated by the same mechanism (Km-450 microM; kcat/Km = 0.12 microM-1 min-1). The comparison of cathepsin B hydrolysis for pro-opioids, a synthetic hexapeptide and its fragments, C-blocked peptides (pro-opioid amides, Met-enkephalin amide, substance P), and bovine myelin basic protein, provided information on the influence of the C-terminal residues on dipeptide release, the rates as correlated to peptide length, and the optimal arrangement of residues favoring scission at the P1-P'1 sites. The brain enzyme was stereospecific and did not act on peptides with C-terminal D-amino acid substituents. Arg hindered and Pro blocked the release of C-terminal dipeptides when in the P'2 positions. The suppression of dipeptide release by agents inhibiting endopeptidase actions such as E-64 and leupeptin, and the endogenous brain factor (cerebrocystatin) point to similar catalytic mechanisms for the exopeptidase action.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Synthesis and biological evaluation of phosphonamidate peptide inhibitors of enkephalinase and angiotensin-converting enzyme.

The effectiveness of phosphonamidate peptide analogues as inhibitors of rat kidney or human brain metalloendopeptidase (enkephalinase, E.C. 3.4.24.11) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE, 3.4.14.1) has been explored with a series of enkephalin analogues in which the scissile Gly3-Phe4 amide bond has been replaced with a phosphonamidate moiety. These compounds exhibited good inhibitory potency against enkephalinase with several of the analogues having Ki values in the submicromolar range as contrasted to micromolar or higher toward ACE. Within a series of [(N-acylamino)methyl] phosphonamidates there was a dramatic decrease in inhibitory activity against enkephalinase as the N-acyl moiety was substituted with larger, more hydrophobic acyl groups. Likewise, the inhibitory activity of the [(N-acylamino)methyl] phosphonamidates against ACE was attenuated by larger phenylalkyl acyl functionalities, although not to the same degree as against enkephalinase. However, phosphonamidate pentapeptide analogues of (Leu)enkephalin and (D-Ala2,D-Leu5)enkephalin showed good inhibitory potency against both enzymes. Interestingly, these two (Leu)enkephalin phosphonamidate analogues were completely inactive in the electrically stimulated guinea pig ileum and mouse vas deferens preparations. Conformational factors that may be involved in this inactivity are discussed.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors↗
PubMed1984

Formation of desTyr dynorphins 5-17 by a purified cytosolic aminopeptidase of rat brain.

An aminopeptidase purified to homogeneity from cytosol of rat brain cleaved dynorphins having 5-17 residues and selected proenkephalins at the Tyr-Gly bond only to release Tyr and the desTyr fragments. The enzyme protein consisted of a single polypeptide chain of Mr 103,000 and was inhibited by puromycin, bestatin, and chelating reagents to yield Ki in the micromolar range. Hydrolysis of Leu-2-naphthylamide was inhibited by Dyn 1-5 competitively (Ki, 18 microM); the Km for Dyn 1-5, the best substrate of the series, was 63.8 microM (Kcat/Km ratio 580 mM-1 min-1). Rates of N-tyrosyl release decreased with peptide size; the presence of Arg in position 6 led to 50% loss for Dyn 1-6, and the C-terminal extensions of Dyn 1-13 or 1-17 to a 98% loss in activity as compared to the pentapeptide. Rapid degradation of small peptides is consistent with a paracrine (neurotransmitter) role as compared to the postulated precursor or exocrine roles for the dynorphins with 13 residues or more.

Aminopeptidases↗
PubMed1984

Membrane-bound enzymes and their role in processing of the dynorphins and of the proenkephalin octapeptide Metenkephalin-Arg-Gly-Leu.

Synaptosomal membrane (SPM) bound exo- and endopeptidases cleave the dynorphins and Met-enkephalin-Arg-Gly-Leu at several sites to produce shorter fragments; among these are dynorphin 1-8 from 1-17, and Met-enkephalin from Met-enkephalin-Arg-Gly-Leu. The most vulnerable site is the Tyr-Gly bond cleaved by membrane-bound aminopeptidase(s), with the shorter peptides degraded more rapidly than the longer ones. A purified metalloendopeptidase sensitive to phosphoramidon inactivates the shorter peptide sequences at the Gly3-Phe4 bond, and the 1-13 and 1-17 sequences also at the Arg7-Ile8 bond. The kcat/Km ratios for purified metalloendopeptidase were 20-30 times higher for Leu-enkephalin and the proenkephalin octapeptide than for dynorphins 1-8, 1-13, and 1-17. Dynorphins 1-13 and 1-17 may serve as precursors for the widely distributed CNS neuropeptide dynorphin 1-8 since they were cleaved by a separate SPM endopeptidase insensitive to phosphoramidon. SPM monocarboxypeptidase converted dynorphin 1-13 to 1-12 (release of Lys) and dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase converted dynorphin 1-8 to 1-6; enkephalin octapeptide served as a precursor of Met-enkephalin by sequential action (release of Leu and Arg-Gly) of both carboxypeptidases.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Cerebrocystatin suppresses degradation of myelin basic protein by purified brain cysteine proteinase.

Procedures are described for extraction or release, assay and purification of cerebrocystatin an inhibitor of brain cathepsin B or of papain. Neurosecretory regions of rat brain contained significantly higher amounts of cerebrocystatin compared to cortex, cerebellum, mid- and lower brain regions, and spinal cord. Inhibitor was purified to apparent homogeneity by alkaline treatment of rat brain cytosol, followed by gel-filtration and affinity chromatography on Reacti-gel coupled to alkylated papain. Purified cerebrocystatin was a single polypeptide of Mr 12,500 as shown by gel-electrophoresis on urea-SDS slab gels. Cerebrocystatin inhibited the hydrolysis of BANA by papain (Ki, 1 nM) or by purified rat brain cathepsin B (Ki, 10 nM) and suppressed the hydrolysis of myelin basic protein (MBP) by cathepsin B (I50, 0.8 microM) and prevented its cleavage to form polypeptides of Mr 15,000-17,000.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Observations on N alpha-deacetylation of model amino acids and peptides: distribution and purification of a specific N-acyl amino acid releasing enzyme in rat brain.

N alpha-Acyl amino acid releasing enzyme (NAARE), an enzyme cleaving acetylMet-Ala at the Met-Ala bond was purified from rat brain cytosol to apparent homogeneity by salt precipitation, gel filtration, and several steps of ion exchange. Levels of NAARE exceeded acylase measured with acetylmethionine in all brain regions and subcellular fractions examined: 60% was associated with cytosol and the remainder with debris or the crude nuclear and mitochondrial-synaptosomal subfractions. Activity was highest in pituitary and was approximately 0.5-0.6 that of liver or kidney. The purified enzyme preferentially hydrolyzed acetylmethionyl peptides: Km for acetylMet-Ala was 0.93; Vmax, 3.5 nmol-1 (kcat, 1185) with pH optimum of 8.9 as compared with 8.2 for acylases measured in cytosol. The purified enzyme was devoid of acylase and common exo- and endopeptidase contamination. Structure-activity relationships examined with synthetic formylated or acetylated peptides indicated no significant effects for di- or tripeptides if the second substituent was Ala, Ser, Asn, or Thr, but the activity was reduced 0.5-fold for Leu, a branched-chain amino acid. No hydrolysis was observed for polypeptides with five or more residues having N-terminal acetylated Tyr (enkephalin) or Ser (alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, thymosin alpha 1), supporting the notion that the enzyme plays a role only in turnover of smaller peptides formed perhaps as a result of endopeptidase cleavage of proteins or polypeptides containing acetylated Met at the N terminus.

Amidohydrolases↗
PubMed1982

A highly specific aminotripeptidase of rat brain cytosol. Substrate specificity and effects of inhibitors.

An aminopeptidase preferentially hydrolyzing Leu- or Ala-Gly-Gly was purified from rat brain cytosol and detailed studies have been performed on its substrate specificity and the effects of inhibitors. The enzyme was devoid of di- and oligopeptidase contamination. Biologically active tripeptides such as Met-Leu-Tyr (chemotactic factor), Gly-His-Lys (liver growth factor) and Thr-Val-leu central nervous system tripeptide) were hydrolyzed at rates 0.05-0.15-times that of Leu-Gly-Gly. Melanostatin (Pro-Leu-GlyNH2) did not serve as a substrate. Substrates bearing N-terminal charged groups, or ones with proline in positions 2 or 3, or those with D-amino acid in positions 1 or 2, or with C-terminal CONH2, were poorly hydrolyzed or did not act as substrates, providing information on subsites involved in enzyme catalysis. The enzyme was inhibited competitively by bestatin (Ki 10-7 M) and by Captopril (2.5.10-7 M, D-3-thio-2-methylpropanyl proline) and by low concentrations of Zn2+ or PCMB, and at higher concentrations by TPCK and PMSF. Inhibition was observed for the chemotactic factor (I50 13 microM) and for the central nervous system tripeptide (195 microM). The enhanced action of Captopril was attributed to the presence of the -SH and -CH3 groups, since inhibition was shared by di- and tripeptides with proline in positions 2 and 3. The specificity pattern of brain enzyme was different from that reported for kidney and intestine.

Amino Acid Sequence↗